Paul’s words to the church at Colosse say it best. “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1, 2). As believers, our main quest in life is to set our hearts and minds on things above. There are higher places we must seek that will take us to a new way of life. The more we observe the higher strata of life, the less we will be hampered by things that want to keep us grounded to this lower life. We must look for the higher ground, where we find our place in Christ at the right hand of God. “The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me walk on my high places.” - Habakkuk 3:19 (Modern English Version) In Matthew 10, Jesus said, “Anybody who gains his lower life will lose the higher life, and anybody who loses his lower life for my sake will gain the higher life” (Matt. 10:39 -WNT). Each of us has a choice. We can settle for the lower life or gain the higher life. The lower life comes easy. It is like being on a river and allowing the current to carry us downstream. Doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, and all the opposing sides of our soul that are emotionally driven are things we must fight to experience. They come naturally because we live in a natural world governed by the natural currents of sin and death. The moment we decide that we want more out of life, we must learn how to switch from the natural tendencies that so easily beset us and reach for the higher ground in Christ. We must purpose in our hearts to make a turnabout and allow the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the current that wants to drag us downstream. The gospel brings us to the reality that it takes a higher power to enable us to press against the natural forces of this world. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can we rise above it. He has come to empower us to walk upon our high places in Christ. David spoke of this when he said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psa.23:1-3). Notice the words “maketh” and “leadeth.” These words assure us that God can bring us into His divine will for our lives if we set our hearts on Christ’s Lordship. Habakkuk knew it was the strength of the Lord that would enable him to leap as a deer. Imagine the wonder of this when we consider how deer are swift responders with a keen sense of smell and can jump over whatever obstacle tries to stand in their way. This is the life God desires that we walk in. He can give us the strength to press our way into higher ground if we are willing to reverse the natural course we find ourselves on. Paul wrote and said, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Gal. 5:16, 17). The word “contrary” means traits that are opposite and are in opposition to another. The Weymouth translation reads, “For the cravings of the lower nature are opposed to those of the Spirit, and the cravings of the Spirit are opposed to those of the lower nature; because these are antagonistic to each other so that you cannot do everything to which you are inclined.” We often find ourselves in a battle to live on the high ground of our Christian faith because the current of our lower nature fights against it. If you have ever been caught in an undertow, you know how hard it is to swim against it. Trying to fight your way into the higher life God has for you cannot be accomplished by mere willpower. It takes the work of the Spirit to lift you to higher ground. Walking in the Spirit starts when you learn to separate the natural world from the spiritual world. Everything about the natural world is governed by our senses, while the spiritual world is governed by faith. Paul said, “We walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Notice how both verses speak of our walking. Walking implies taking steps in a specific direction. We decide by faith to leave behind the low life and seek the high life. We set our affection on things above and not on the earth (Col. 3:2). We look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2). Every time we turn toward the high ground, we gain more strength to overcome the natural forces that want to keep us centered on this natural life. Faith allows us to connect with what is unseen. It helps us capture the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. While we know God does not force His will on any of us, the truth is faith permits Him to order our steps. The entire idea of Him “making” or “leading” us to those high places can only come when we turn the helm over to Him. Isaiah once said, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31). If it were all left to us, many of us would have already found that higher ground. Why are there fewer who find it? It is because it takes waiting on the Lord for this renewal process to come. In other words, time spent ministering to the Lord allows us to sprout, slide through, revive, flourish, be changed, enter an interchange, become altered, and come on or up with His divine strength to gain higher ground. Philippians chapter 4 says it best, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13). Take time today to wait on Him and discover His strength. Let faith arise within you as you look up and allow the guiding hand of God to bring you to that which is rich, full, and free. PRAYER Father, I desire to change my outlook today and begin to look up to that higher ground you have for me. I do not want to remain confined to the natural course of life. There are higher places for me to live. As I wait on You, establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word. Do not let any human weakness have power over me, but help me find the course that leads me to a higher life in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. "Establish my footsteps in [the way of] Your word; Do not let any human weakness have power over me [causing me to be separated from You]." Psalm 119:133 - Amplified Bible CONFESSION I purpose to walk in the Spirit and not allow my emotions to control me. I step away from the natural current that seeks to beset me, and I lay hold on that higher ground in Christ. I know there is a place to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint. I choose that path, and I bend my will toward His “making and leading” as He becomes the author and finisher of my faith. DEFINING MOMENTS… Jesus came to bring about a “great exchange.” He became sin so that we could gain His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). We have what it takes to journey upward to that higher ground. When the Lord begins to renew our strength, He gives us the power to break free from the currents of this world. To go upstream with a power-driven motor is much easier than trying to paddle in our own strength. Find time to wait on the Lord until His strength kicks in and you are able to enjoy the high places of your salvation.u Permission Granted Pastors David and Betty Dunning Faith Harvest Church 221 Executive Drive, Unit 6 Savannah GA 31406 pastor1@fhcsavannah.org 4 GLAD TIDINGS AUGUST 2024 HIGHER GROUND DAVID AND BETTY DUNNING
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